Local council support schemes

From April 2013 each local authority is responsible for providing help to its residents struggling with an emergency,

Cold weather payments

Figures released by charity National Energy Action (NEA) suggested more than 2.5million households fall into the fuel poor bracket

These are to help with gas and electricity costs during cold weather.

They are automatically paid if the average temperature where you live is recorded as, or is forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days between November and March.

Healthcare

Attendance Allowance

If you're over 65 and need frequent help with personal care, or someone to supervise you, Attendance Allowance can help.

You'll need to provide full details of how you need help, eg, toileting, dressing, washing, eating or supervision to avoid harm to yourself and others. But it can help with physical problems (including sensory, such as blindness), mental problems (including learning difficulties), or both.

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for disabled people who need help with mobility or care costs.

If you’re aged 16 to 64 and not currently getting DLA, you may be able to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead.

If you were born after 8 April 1948 and you’re already claiming, you’ll continue to get DLA until the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) writes to tell you when your DLA will end and invites you to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Unless your circumstances change, you don’t need to do anything until you hear from DWP about your DLA.

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Carer's Allowance

You could get £62.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

You won’t be paid extra if you care for more than one person.

Contribution-based Employment Support Allowance

You may be able to get new style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you’re ill or unable to work and meet the entry conditions for Universal Credit (UC) in the area you live. UC is available for single people throughout Great Britain, it is also available to couples and families in some jobcentre areas.

You may get new style ESA if you have a fit note and have paid or been credited with enough National Insurance Contributions.

New style ESA can be claimed instead of, or as well as, UC depending on your circumstances. If you claim both benefits your new style ESA payment will be deducted from your UC payment.

Work Capability Assessment

You must have a Work Capability Assessment while your claim for new style ESA is being assessed.

This is to understand how your illness or disability affects your ability to work. If you’re claiming both UC and new style ESA, you’ll only attend one Work Capability Assessment.

The Department for Work and Pensions will arrange this for you.

Initially you can claim new style ESA for up to 365 days. After 365 days, your entitlement will end and your work coach will advise you of your options.

This time limit does not apply if you’re assessed to have limited capability for work and work related activity.

You’ll be informed of the outcome of your assessment and what to do next.

Statutory Sick Pay

This is paid to employees if they are off sick from work for more than four days, for a period of up to 28 weeks.

State Pension

The Basic State Pension is a Government-administered scheme, funded by National Insurance contributions, to give those who have reached the Government-defined retirement age a guaranteed weekly income.

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Winter Fuel

If you were born on or before 5 August 1953 you could get between £100 and £300to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

You usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you’re eligibleand you get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).

If you’re eligible but don’t get paid automatically, you’ll need to make a claim.